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Abstract
Local governments spend considerable time building neighborhood confidence by improving the visual qualities of the external environment. It is assumed that improved neighborhood appearance would trigger property reinvestment and real estate market stability or recovery. This study shows that in older suburban communitieswith the exception of government service delivery-knowledge of suburban location, housing tenure, length of residence, and housing improvements do not enable us to predict how residents perceive their neighborhood environments. While some things may be bothersome, they have not reached a threshold sufficient to produce awareness or to precipitate action. Under these circumstances, government efforts to maintain service levels or upgrade properties remain unperceived and they will not produce the desired multiplier effects.